A Coventry dad is urging the city council to ensure run-down subways under the ring road are drastically improved.

The council recently granted planning permission for developer Oakmoor-Deeley to start work on the Belgrade Plaza, a multi-million pound complex which will include a hotel and casino on the site of the Bond Street car park.

David Tittle, aged 46, of Middleborough Road, Radford, said the two subways pedestrians had to use to enter the city from his side of town - in Hill Street and at the end of Radford Road - were both in a "shocking condition".

The father-of-two said: "On the whole we welcome the development and look forward to enjoying the new facilities.

"But many people living in this area are disappointed that the council has not taken advantage of the chance to improve access from our side of Coventry into the city centre.

"We have been battling for a number of years to improve the ring road crossing, the one by Hill Street is disgraceful and the crossing by Radford fire station is a nasty environment." Mr Tittle, who works for a consultancy firm on community development, said the plans agreed by the council should have included improvements on how people from the Radford area could get into the city.

He said: "My main concern is the safety of my children. The ring road crossings are not safe, they are dark, in poor condition, and I worry when my children are walking back from a night out that they have to use such filthy and nasty routes.

"The council told us they have applied for funding to improve access, but we are annoyed they haven't done any more."

Tim Hurdis, from Deeley Properties, said they were already looking at ways to improve the entrances to the city centre. He said: "Talks with the council are ongoing, but there's acceptance that the subways need to be upgraded to make them more user-friendly and attractive."